Telephone register and lock-out device.



g g MM, 3% l 0. V. RIGHEY. n TELEPHONE REGISTER AND LOCK-OUT DEVICE.AHLIOA'I'ION FILED SEPT. 19, 1912 I a 1,063,599. Patented June 1913.

a gimme-SHEET 1.

5] v umber Wiimamo o. v. RIGHEY. TELEPHONE REGISTER AND LOOK-OUT DEVICE.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1912. v

Patented'June 3, 1913.

3 SHBETS-SHEBT 2.

IIIIIIIIIIIIJIIIIIIIlIllilIlllllllifiiliiiilllilll (Irlliiilliilllr 1'i.

G. V. RIGHBY. TELEPHONE REGISTER AND LOGK-0UT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILEDSEPT.19, 1912.

1,063,599, Patented June 3, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

un macaw UNITED stra rns PATENT OFFICE.

CHARMS V. RICHEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO PHONECAI-L RECORDER COMPANY, OF DELAWARE.

Specification of Letters Intent.

Patented J une 3, 1913.

Application filed September 19, 191-2. Serial No. 721,185

To all whom it may] concern Be it known that 1, CH RLES V. RioHEY, .acitizen of the United States, residing at W ashington, in the Districtof Columbia, have invented certain new and useful improvements inTelephone Registers and simplify and reduce the number of operationsrequired to be performed by the subscriberj Another object of thGlDVQDt-IOII is to provide means whereby a failure of the apparatus tooperate is-indicated to the operator at the central office.

Further objects of the invention are to' simplify and increase theGillCIBIICy of the apparatus and circuits in varlous ways which will behereinafter pointed out.

In the operation of the present invention a call registering system, asubscriber at a substation =.equi-pped'with the device, be

comes connected with the central ofiice 'operator in the usual manner byremoving his receiver from the switch-hook. The open ator finding thewanted subscriber-available, completes the connect-ion, .a-nd vvhen thecalled subscriber answers, sends ringingcurrent over the line to thecalling substation which actuates the register to register theconnection. The actuation of the-regis-.

ter also partially completes a restoring circuit controlledlry anormally closed contact of the switch-hook. At the end oftheconversation the calling subscriber restoring his f is receivercompletes the restoring circuit which restores the actuating mechanismof the meter to normal, thus preparing it for the registration of thenext call. The restoration of the meter mechanism .opens the restoringcircuit. Inasmuch as the restoring; circuit cannot be completed unlessthe register mechanism is in operated position, and

all current supplied to thesubstation comes from the central office, theoperator is notified of the closure of the restoring circuit indicatingthat the-call has been reg,

istered and is also notified of the subsequent opening of the restoringcircuit which indicates that the meter mechanism is in normal condition.1

In the operation of my invention as a ilockout system, a partyattempting to make a call cannot signal. the central oflice operator bymerely raising the receiver, but must actuate a special keytprovided forthe :pur- ;pose. Upon actuation of the key, the transmitter circuit-isopened and the line circuit is closed through -the receiving apparatusonly, so that the operator is signaled by the usual closure of the'linecircuit, and the'subscriber can hear-her ask for the number, but canmake his wants known only by repeated operations of the key. Such acondition indicates to the operator that a call is being .made from alookout. station by an unauthorized person, and in order to ascertainhis wants, 'the operator sends ringing current "over :the line to thecalling substation which disables the lockout device so that thesubscriber can talk to the operator. If the connection desired is apermissible or unchargeable one, such .as an emergency call, theoperator completes the connection in the usualway. The actuation of thelookout disabling mechanism partially completes the restoring circuitcontrolled through a normally closed contact of .the switch hook, sothat when thecalling subscriber hangs up the receiverQthe lockoutmechanism is restored. The restoration of the lookout mechanism againopens the restoring circuit, .the closing and openingof the restoringcircuitbei-ng indicated to the operator for the same reasons and in thesame manner as above mentioned.

My invention .is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which-Figure 1 is .a front elevation with ;part brokenaway. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation with the terminal block removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailview of .a contact block. Fig. 4 is afront elevation of a desk standpartly in section. Fig."5 is a diagram 'ofthe subs ation-circuits andapparatus in normal position.

Referring to Figs. 1, .2 lmolinting-irame to which is rigidly secured -ashaft extending therefrom through the terminal block 3 and is providedwith .threads 4 at the projecting end. The lever and 3, 1 is the 8 isrigidly connected to the sleeve (3 which is mounted to turn on the shaft2 with suflicient friction to hold the lever 8 in its operated position,after operation, until positively restored in the manner hereafterdescribed. The lever 7 is mounted to turn loosely about the shaft 2 andis normally held in position, shown, by the spring 5. The levers 7 and 8are each provided ,at their lower extremities with armatures 9 and 10respectively, adapted to be acted upon by either of the magnets 11 and12. Motion is transmitted from the lever 8 to a meter 13 by means ofapin 14 and elongated eye 15 at the upper extremity of the lever. Thismeans of transmission is so arranged that the meter is actuated toregister a call each time the armature 10 is attracted by the magnet 11.Near the upper end of the lever 8 are mounted two short-circuiting orbridging brushes 16 and 17 insulated from each other and from the leverand adapted to bridge the co-ntacts' 1819 and 20-21 respectivelywhenever the armature 10 is attracted by the magnet 11. The brushes 16and 17 normally rest on. the insulation block 22 out of engagement Withtheir respective contadlts. The upper end of the lever 7 car- I ries anarm 23 which bears against the mits the lever 7 to restore and thecontact springs 5 and 25 to again engage, the lever 8 however remainingin its actuated position on account of the frictional bearing betweenthe sleeve 6 and the shaft 2. r The contact springs 26 and 27 constitutea part of the lookout. mechanism and are controlled by a barrel lock 28,the bolt 29 of said lock being adapted to engage the upper end of themovable spring 26 through a block of insulating material 30, and to movethe spring 26 sufficiently to engage the other contact spring 27. Thelock 28 is operated in the usual manner by a key in the posses sion ofthe subscriber.

The terminal block 3 is secured to an angle 31 of the frame 1 and isprovided with sui t able terminal connective means such as the screwposts 32. A knurled nut 33 is provided at the threaded end of'the shaft4 and is adapted to be screwed tight against the sleeve 35 to vary theresistance offered to the movements of the lever 8'.

A suitable cover or casing (not shown)- is provided to inclose theentire mechanism except the indicating window of the meter 13.

In Fig. 4 is shown a portion of the standard Bell telephone desk standequipped with extra normally closed switch-hook contacts 30 and 37, andthe calling key 38. These are the only additions necessary to thestandard equipment. The additional spring 37 is mounted on the post 39in permanent electrical contact. with the existing spring 40, while thecomplementary contact 36 is inserted in the mounting plate 41 projectingthrough into engagement with the spring 37 and is insulated from themounting plate by suitable insulating means such as the usual insulatingbushing.

The key 38 is assembled as a unitand consists of'a pair ofnormallyclosed contact springs 42 and a pair of normally open contact springs43, secured within an insulating block 44. The terminals of the lowermembers of the said contaot springs are shown projecting forward fromthe insulating block, and similarly the terminals of the upper members(not shown) project rearwardly from the far side of the insulatingblock. The shank of the button 45 abuts on the lower member of thecontact springs 42 so that a downward movement of the button willseparate said contact springs and close the contact springs 43, movementbeing transmitted from the lower member of contact springs 42 to the.upper member of contact springs 43 through the insulating stud 46. Thewhole device is secured to the mounting plate 41 by means of a thumbscrew 47.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the only alteration necessary to.the existing substation equipment is the drilling of a hole at theupper and the lower ends of the mounting plate 41 to receive thecontact, member 36 and the bolt of the thumb screw 47 respectively.

For the sake of clearness there have been no circuit connections shownin the mechanical iews, Figs. 1, 2. 3 and 4. such connections howeverbeing shown in the diagram of the substation circuits (Fig. 5) in whichthe essential parts of the apparatus are conventionally shown andcorrespondingly numbered. y

Referring to Fig. 5. S9 and 49 are the line wires leading from thecentral ollice. The ringer 5O and condenser 51. are permanently bridgeuacross the line wires in series.

52 and 53 are the primary and secondary windings respectively of aninduction coil. Primary winding 52 has one terminal connectedto the linewire 89 and the other terminal connected through conductor 54 inmultiple to a normally open switch hookcontact member '40 and a normallyclosed contact member 37. The secondary coil 53 9 has one terminalconnected between the ringer 50 and the condenser 51 and the otherterminal thereof is connected to one terminal of the receiver 56 by wayof conductors 55 and 57, and normally closed contact springs 5-25. Theother terminal of the receiver 56 is connected to the line wire 89 byway of conductors 58 and 54 and normally open contact members 59- l0.contact springs 26 and 27 controlled by the bolt 29 of the lock 28,together with the contacts 2021 adapted to be bridged by the brush 17upon the movement of lever 8 toward the right, constitute the look-outdevice.

The normally closed switch-hook con tacts 36-37 and the normally opencontacts 1819 are included in series in the restoring circuit, which isthe energizing circuit of the restoring magnet 12, which is adapted tobe energized by battery current from the central office. The magnet 11is adapted to be energized by ringing current from the central ofliceand has its circuit normally opened at the switch-hook contact 40. The

binding posts 60, 61 and 62 are provided for changing connections inadapting the circuits for use with the lookout device.

The circuits and apparatus are shown in normal condition and arrangedfor the control of the call registering device. \Vhen it is desired tochange from the call registering system t'o the lockout system, thewires 63 and 64 are disconnected from the contact studs 61 and 62 andconnected to the contact studs 60 and 61 respectively.

The operation as a call registering system is as follows: the subscriberdesiring a connection raises the receiver 56 from the switch-hook 65which completes the line circuit as follows: line wire 89, 54, 40, 66,67, transmitter 68, wire 69, contact 42 of the calling key, wire 63,6-1, magnet 11, back over line wire 49. The magnet 11 is so wound thatit will not become energized in this circuit, but is adapted to beenergized only by the ringin current. The closure of the line circuit asescribed signals the operator at the central ofiice through means of theusual line signaling apparatus, Whereupon the operator listens-in on theline to ascertain the Wants of the calling subscriber.

The circuit above traced'is the subscriber's battery supply circuit andincludes the primary winding 51 of the induction coil and thetransmitter 68. The circuit of the voice currents may be tracedasfollows: line Wire 89, 51, 54:, 40, 59, receiver 56, 57, contact springs255, 55, secondary winding 53, condenser 51'to line wire 49. Theoperator ascertaining the number wanted completes the desired connectionand when the called .party answers, the operator sends ringing The Ymagnet 11-by way of the circuit previously traced through said magnet.The magnet 11 is thereupon energized and attracts both armatures 9 and10. The attraction of armature 9 moves the lever 7 to the right whichopens the contacts 5-25 and interrupts the receiver circuit. The lever 7remains in its actuated position only so long as the magnet 11 remainsenergized, after which it restores under tensionot spring 5, whereby thereceiver circuit remains open only so long as the ringing currentendures, thus preventing chattering of the receiver during ringing orduring the actuation of the registering device. The attraction ofarmature 10 causes the upper portion of the lever 8 to swing over to theright which operates the meter 13 to register one call and at the sametime brings thebru shes 16 and 17 into engagement with thecontactscontacts and lever bearing. The connection of contacts 1S-l9partially completes the .circuit of restoring magnet 12 which circuit includes the contacts 36-37, now opened by virtue of the receiver beingoil the hook. After the removal of ringing current from the line, thecircuits are in condition for car rying on conversation.

.When the calling subscriber restores his receiver at the end of theconversation, the

switch-hook 65 operates to open contacts 59,

40 and 66, and close contacts .6667, whereupon the restoring circuit" iscompleted and the restoring magnet 12 energizedby battery current fromthe central office over the following path: line Wire 89, 52, 54, 37,36, 70, 18, 16, 19, 71, magnet 12 and back over line wire it). Theenergization of magnet 12 attracts armature 10 and throws lever 8 overtoward the left, which moves the brushes 16 and 17 out of engagementwith their respective contacts and sets the registering device 13 inposition to register the next call. between contacts 18-19, opens therestoring circuit, whereupon current ceases to How ever the line, whichnotifies the operator through the usual means that disconnection isdesired, and that the call hasbeen properly registered. Should thelever'8 tail to restore, the restoring circuit would remain closed andthe operator would be notified of the fact by the continued closure ofthe line circuit through the restoring cir cuit'. It will be seen thatduring the period of time between the opening of contact be tweensprings 40 and 66 and'the closure of contacts 36-37, the line circuitwill be opened,vwhich will cause a' flicker of the operators supervisorylamp, indicating to the operator the completion of the restar Theremoval of the connection ing circuit. To change over from the registersystem to the lockout system, the wires 63 and (Sat are disconnectedfrom the contact studs 61 and 62 and connected to the contact studs 60and 61 respectively, and the lockout 28 is operated to open the coatactsprings 26 and 27. lVith these change the operation isas follows: the,person. attempting to make a call cannot signal central by merelyraising the receiver 56 from the hook 65, as the line circuit is openedat contacts 2627. In order to signal the operator it is necessary thatthe calling party actuate key 38 which opens the contact at 42 andcloses the contact at 43. The closure of contact 43 completes asignaling circuit which may be traced as follows: line wire 89, 52, 5-1,40, 66, 67, 43, 64, 72, 11 and back over line Wire 49. The operatorperceiving the signal connects with the line to ascertain the wants ofthe calling party who can hear her ask the number but can not talk tothe operator as the circuit of the transmitter (58 is opened at contacts42 and 26-27. Such condition indicates to the operator that a call isbeing made by an unauthorized person from the locked-out substation,whereupon the operator applies ringing current scribed.

to the line which traverses the magnet 11 through the following circuit:line wire 89, 52, 54, 40. 66, 67, 43, 64, 72, 11 and back over line wire49. The energization of magnet 11 actuates the levers 7 and 8 in thesame manner as before described which brings the brush 17 intoengagement with the contacts 20-2l so that when the calling partyreleases the key 35 the transmitter circuit is completed over thefollowing path: line wire 89, 52, 54, 40, B6, 67, trans mitter (38, 69,42, 63, 73, 7% contacts 2021, 75, 76 and back over line wire 49. Thecompletion of this circuit enables the calling party toconnnunicate withthe operator and if the call is a permissible or unchargeable one theoperator completes the connection in the usual manner.Duringconversation the circuits remain in the condition last describedand at the end of the conversation when the receiver 56 is restored tothe hook 5 the switch hook contacts operate to complete the restoringcircuit and restore the lever S in the same manner as before de- Therestoration of the lever 8 again opeps both the-locking circuit and thereceiver circuit at contacts 2021 and 18-19 respectively. The closure ofthe restoring circuit and the restoration of the lever 8 are indicatedto the operator through the same means and in the same manner as be foredescribed. \Vhen the subscriber desires to permit free use of thetelephone he disables the lock-out device by operating the lock 28'toclose the springs 26-427 which shunts the contact 20-21 and renders theuse of the key 38 and lever 8 unnecessary. It is to be noted that duringthe time that the substation is locked out, complete c0nnection can beestablished only through the actuation of lever 8 which will alsoactuate the register. Thus, means are provided whereby thesubscriber'will have a record of all the answered, incoming calls madeduring his absence.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In a telephone exchange system, a combinedsubstation lockout device and register comprising the usual transmitterand receiver circuits, a register and register actuating means, saidactuating means being responsive to ringing current over the line, andnormally closed contacts in said receiver circuit adapted to be openedduring the encrgization of said actuating means by ringing current,whereby buzzing of the receiver is prevented.

2. In a telephone exchange system, a com bined lockout and registersubstation equipmentcomprising the usual transmitter and receivercircuits, a register and actuating means therefor responsive to ringingcurrent over the line, and contacts in said receiver circuit biased to anormally closed position and adapted to be momentarily opened during theapplication of ringing current as aforesaid.

3. In a telephone exchange system, a lockout and register substationequipment comprising the usual transmitter and receiver circuits, aregistering device, actuating means therefor in the transmitter circuitresponsive to ringing current over the line, and normally closedcontacts in the receiver circuit under the control of said actuatingmeans whereby the receiver circuit is opened when ringing current isapplied as aforesaid.

4. In a telephone exchange system, a lockout and register substationequipment comprising the usual transmittcr and receiver circuits, theregister and actuating means therefor responsive to ringing current overthe line, restoring means for said register operative upon replacing thereceiver upon its hook, and means independent of the receiver hook formaking and breaking the talking circuit, whereby the operator may besignaled before restoring the register.

5. In a telephone exchange system, a lockout and register substationequipment comprising the usual transmitter and receiver circuits, alockout comprising normally closed contacts in the transmitter circuitwhich may be opened at will, means for momentarily closing the linecircuit to give the operator an emergency signal independently of thetransmitter, and means at the substation responsive to current of adistinctive character and under the cont-r01 of lOt the operator toenable the'disabled transmitter circuit at will, whereby conversationmay proceed in emergency conditions in spite of the lookout.

6. In a telephone exchange system, a lockout and register substationequipmentcomprising the usual transmitter and receiver circuits, alookout comprising normally equipment including the usual transmitterand receiver circuits, a lockout including normally closed contactsadapted to be loclred open at will to disable the transmitter J 25circuit, an auxiliary emergency signaling" 'circuit includingelectromagnetic means for enabling said disabled transmitter circuit,

and normally open manually controlled signaling contacts, saidelectromagnetic. actuating means being responsive to current of adistinctive character" only.

8, In a telephone exchange system comprising a lockout andregistersubstation equipment comprising the usual transmitter andreceiver circuits in multiple acrossthe lines, actuating means for aregistefn'el; sponsive to current of a distinctive character only overthe line and connected across the line separately from said receiver andtransmitter, a lockout comprising normally closed contacts in thetransmitter circuit which may be opened and malntairied open circuit ofsaid actuating means operable at will by the subscriber to close theline circuit for signaling the operator independently of saidtransmitter circuit.

prising the usualtransmitter and receiver circuits, actuating means fora register through which the transmitter circuit isv normally completed,a circuit in shunt to' said actuating means through which the circuit ofthe transmitter may be shifted when desired, said shunt-circuit beingjointly controlled by a lookout device and said actuating means, andmeans independent of said transmitter circuit for thereafter closing thecircuit of said actuating means.

10. In a telephone exchange system, a lockout and register substationequipment comprising the usual transmitter and receiver'circuits,actuating means for a register'normally in said transmitter circuit andrestoring means for the register in a circuit closed when the receiveris replaced upon its hook, an independently operable circuit in shunt tosaid restoring means, and means for circuit terminals arranged forshifting said CHARLES 'v. iircnnr.

- Witnesses I H. F. LOWENSTEIN,

at will, and normally open contact-s the 'Washingtom-D. C.

' JAMES H. Mann.

each, by addressing the Gpmmissioner o1 Patc'iit al closing and openingsaid circuit to signal the operator independently of the receiver hook,

9. In a telephone exchange system, a lockout and register substationequipment comoperable by ringing current over the line,

register actuating means from the transmit-

